16C Ireland hotter than Rome
Temperatures to hit 16C as spring comes early across Ireland
IRELAND is set to bask in spring sunshine this weekend – and some parts will be hotter than Rome, Athens and Marseilles.
Temperatures will hit the mid-teens in the coming days – that’s 5C above average for February.
And there is even warmer weather forecast for early next week with some areas set to hit 16C.
The Midlands, the west and north Leinster will see the most sunshine today with temperatures of between 13C and 15C.
Met Eireann’s Siobhan Ryan said: “You’ll see drier, brighter weather developing and it’ll be 12C to 15C in range by the afternoon after the day begins damp and drizzly, but that rain kind of clears away. “So it’ll be spring-like into the afternoon even though the morning might begin a bit murky.”
The forecast for Saturday is a little cooler to begin with but temperatures will rise as the day progresses and it will be largely dry and sunny nationwide during the evening.
The forecaster added: “It will be 11C to 12C over the eastern half of the country because of a front is slow to clear there, but for the afternoon and evening should pick up and it should feel quite nice and be a pleasant end to the day.” Ms Ryan said it is very unusual for us to have such mild, sunny weather at this time of year.
She added: “Generally speaking we kind of expect temperatures of around 9C, no more this time of year. So they are 4C to 5C above average.
“It’s very mild for this time of year and it’s spring-like weather.
“Our official spring begins on March 1 and it’s more like temperatures you would expect at the end of March or in early April.”
The mercury is expected to reach a high of 15C again on Sunday with the “mildest and brightest conditions over the West” – with Ireland hotter than European cities Rome at12c, Marseilles which is set to hit 14C and Athens which will see highs of 6C. Ms Ryan added: It will probably feel a little bit cool along the east and south-east coasts because the winds are on-shore but it will be 14C or 15C over Connacht, north Munster. It could feel very pleasant over there.
“It will probably be on Sunday and Monday when the temperatures will peak.
“On Monday you’re looking at temperatures of 11C to 16C, they pick up everywhere, maybe by a degree or two for all parts.
“I would say the Midlands, west and north-west are going to see mild conditions with highs of 16C.
“After that they fall back a bit but they are still very good for the time of year. The outlook into next week is a lot of dry, calm, sunny weather.”